Architectural molding

ABSTRACT

An architectural molding ( 10 ) includes an extruded flexible plastic foam member ( 16 ) having a front side ( 22 ), a rear side ( 20 ) and a cross sectional profile ( 18 ). Also included is a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive ( 24, 26 ) affixed to at least a portion of the rear side and a release strip ( 28, 29 ) releasably adhered to the layer of pressure sensitive adhesive.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/312,167filed Mar. 20, 2003, which is a national stage of PCT Internationalapplication Serial No. PCT/US00/17102 filed Jun. 21, 2000, and acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/337,243 filed Jun. 22,1999.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to architectural molding installed at the base,mid-portion or top of an architectural wall and, in particular, to amolding composed of flexible plastic foam.

Decorative moldings are routinely used in architecture to providedecoration and to cover various raw edges and imperfections. Suchmoldings are most commonly made of wood, but other rigid materials havebeen employed. In general, such materials are relatively expensive andinstallation of the molding has required substantial skill as a workman.

U. S. Pat. No. 5,496,512 shows thin molded plastic (e. g., polystyrene)molding strips for application to walls. The molding strips rely onthinness to provide flexibility and are either vacuum or pressuremolded. A central portion of the molding is attached to the wall and oneor more of the edges of the molding are resiliently flexed into snugengagement with the wall. The molding is installed using overlappedjoints. There is a need for more effective architectural molding andarchitectural molding which is easier to install.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An architectural molding includes an extruded flexible plastic foammember having a front side, a rear side and a cross sectional profile.Also included is a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive affixed to atleast a portion of the rear side and a release strip releasably adheredto the layer of pressure sensitive adhesive.

A method for installing the architectural molding to a structureincludes providing the molding; removing a portion of the release stripto expose a portion of the pressure sensitive adhesive; adhering theexposed portion to the structure; flexing a portion of the molding notyet adhered to the structure away from the structure and removing anadditional portion of the release strip to expose an additional portionof the pressure sensitive adhesive; and adhering the additional portionto the structure.

A tool for the application of an architectural molding between a walland a ceiling, where the molding has a front side, a rear side and across sectional profile. The tool includes a ceiling following surface;a wall following surface; a profile following surface; and a handle, thehandle providing a manual grip for sliding the tool along a wall andceiling intersection and the profile following surface providingpressure resistive support to a central portion of the profile, whilepermitting respective outer portions of the profile to be pressedagainst the wall and the ceiling.

A method for installing the architectural molding between a wall and aceiling using the tool is also provided. The method includes placing thetool against the intersection; removing a portion of the release stripto expose a wall portion and a ceiling portion of the pressure sensitiveadhesive; placing the central portion against the profile followingsurface and adhering the wall portion to the wall and the ceilingportion to the ceiling; flexing a portion of the molding not yet adheredto the wall or ceiling away from the wall or ceiling, respectively, andremoving an additional portion of the release strip to expose anadditional portion of the pressure sensitive adhesive; sliding the toolto cooperate with the flexed portion; and adhering the additionalportion of the pressure sensitive adhesive to the wall or ceiling.

An architectural molding adapter includes an elongate sheet of plasticmaterial having a back side and a front side; a plurality oflongitudinal fold grooves in the sheet; a pressure sensitive adhesiveaffixed to longitudinal peripheral portions of the back side; and arelease strip releasably adhered to the pressure sensitive adhesive, theadapter being adapted to provide an intermediate attachment point formultiple rows of crown molding when the adapter is folded along aplurality of the fold grooves into a generally rectangular cross sectionstructure when attached to a wall and ceiling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional perspective view of an installed moldingaccording to the invention for a top portion of a wall.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional perspective view of an installed moldingaccording to the invention for a mid-portion of a wall.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional perspective view of an installed moldingaccording to the invention for a base portion of a wall.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a package containing a molding accordingto the invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional longitudinal elevation view of nested layersof molding according to the invention.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal elevation view (with many elements shown incross section) showing a tool in use for installing molding according tothe invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a tool in use for installingmolding according to the invention.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal elevation view or end view of an adapter forinstalling multiple rows of molding according to the invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional longitudinal elevation view of the adapterof FIG. 8 in use with moldings according to the invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of a molding according to theinvention.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal elevation view (with many elements shown incross section) showing an alternate tool in use for installing moldingaccording to the invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the tool of FIG. 11 in use forinstalling molding according to the invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing corner segments for installingmolding according to the invention.

FIG. 14 is a side elevation view showing a press form for use with thepresent invention.

FIG. 15 is a cut-away view of the press form of FIG. 14, taken alongline 15-15.

FIG. 16 is a side elevation view of a tool for use with the presentinvention.

FIG. 17 is a cut away view of the tool of FIG. 16, taken along line17-17.

A method for installing multiple rows of pressure sensitive adhesivebacked crown molding using the adapter is also provided.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

When a range such as 5-25 is given, this means preferably at least 5 andpreferably not more than 25.

Referring to FIG. 1, an architectural molding 10 is shown installedbetween a top portion of a wall 12 and the edge of a ceiling 14.Moldings at this location are often referred to as crown moldings. Themolding 10 includes an extruded flexible plastic foam member 16 having across section or cross sectional profile 18 and a rear side or surface20 and a front side or surface 22. The front side or surface 22, whenviewed in cross section (such as looking down the longitudinal length ofthe molding), determines the front surface profile of the molding.Correspondingly, the rear side or surface 20 determines or defines arear surface profile. In the preferred embodiment, the cross sectionalprofile 18 is constant along the longitudinal direction of the member16; that is, if you look at the cross sectional profile 18 every fewfeet as you travel down the length of member 16, the profile 18 willremain the same.

The member 16 is provided with one or more layers of pressure sensitiveadhesive. For example, pressure sensitive adhesive layers 24,26 may beaffixed on the rear side 20 on outer or edge portions of the molding 10that will contact the wall or ceiling. Referring to FIG. 7, a releasestrip 28,29 is initially adhered to each area or layer of pressuresensitive adhesive to protect the adhesive until installation of themolding 10.

The member 16 is extruded in continuous lengths having a constant crosssectional profile 18. The extrusion process ordinarily results in aconstant, unchanging cross sectional profile. FIG. 1 illustrates acompound cove crown molding (see the front surface profile). Other typesof moldings having a continuously constant or uniform cross section andfront surface profile can be utilized, such as, the following types ofmolding (these being determined by the front surface profile): crown,cove, fillet and fascia, torus, reeding, cavetto, scotia, conge andbeak. Various front surface profiles for crown and cove moldings can beused, such as those illustrated in molding catalogues from Hiland WoodProducts, Walnut Creek, Ohio and American Hardwood, Columbia Station,Ohio, which are known in the art and which are incorporated herein byreference. The member 16 is preferably a low density, closed cell,thermoplastic flexible foam that is resiliently compressible andresiliently flexible. The flexible plastic foam preferably has a densityof 1.6-3, more preferably about 2, lbs. per cubic foot, preferably lessthan 9,7,6,5,4 and 3 lbs./cu. ft. The flexible foam is resilient and canbe easily bent and compressed and will then return to its originalshape. The flexible plastic foam is preferably polyethylene, rubberlatex, polypropylene, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride or polyolefinflexible plastic foam, more preferably polyethylene flexible plasticfoam, preferably made with an isobutane blowing agent. The extrudedflexible plastic foam is preferably polyethylene, less preferablysubstantially or principally or predominantly polyethylene or the majorproportion of which is polyethylene. Such polyethylene foams areavailable as Nomafoam from Nomaco, Inc., Zebulon, N.C.

The layer of pressure sensitive adhesive 24,26 may be applied to themember 16 either while member 16 is being made or at a later time. Inthe preferred embodiment, the adhesive may be, for example, a hot meltpressure sensitive adhesive applied hot (such as 350° F.) to the member16 and becoming affixed thereto as the adhesive cools. A suitableadhesive is available from H. B. Fuller Company, St. Paul, Minn., asHL-8209DR. Preferably, the pressure sensitive adhesive is high heatresistant, permanent grade with a 180 degree peel (60 sec./75F, 1 mil.)of at least 5, more preferably at least 6 or 7, lbs./inch, polyken tackof at least 1500 grams, loop tack of at least 50,70 or 90 ounces. Therelease strips 29,28 are releasably adhered to the adhesive 24,26,respectively. It is also possible to affix the adhesive in other ways,such as applying the adhesive to the release strip and then applying theadhesive/release strip from web-like rolls. The member 16 may bepre-colored to desired colors by adding coloring to the plastic foammaterial prior to extruding. This produces a front side 22 suitable foruse without further painting, coating, etc.

One may also apply a primer to the front side 22 either duringmanufacturing (pre-primed) or at the job site to make the molding 10paintable (including techniques such as “wood-graining”). A primer suchas Chil-Perm CP-30 from Childers Products Company may be used. Morepreferably, a primer such as Eastman Chlorinated Polyolefin CP-153-2available from Eastman Chemical Company may be used. The primed surfacemay then be painted.

It is also possible to treat the front surface 22 with corona charge forcorona treatment. This electrostatic treatment allows paint to adheredirectly to the surface 22 without a primer coating. Alternatively thefront surface can be treated with corona charge in-line at themanufacturing facility, and a flexible and quick dry paint or primer canalso be applied inline.

In the preferred embodiment, the molding 10 is produced, packaged andsold in at least 30 foot lengths and, typically, in lengths of at least50,75,100 and 120 feet. The profile 18 is typically in the range of3/16-¾, more preferably ¼-½, more preferably about ⅜, inch in thickness(and 2 to 8 or 3 to 6 or about 4.5 inches wide, that is, from the tipnear layer 24 to the tip near layer 26). This thickness allows segmentsof the molding 10 to be joined with either butt or mitered joints. Themolding 10 can be accurately cut with a cutting guide such as a miterguide with a hand-held serrated knife. The thickness of the molding 10,when cut, provides a wide attachment face or bonding surface for butt ormiter joints to product precise uniform attachments. The thickness alsomay be chosen to provide sufficient strength to span the space betweenthe wall 12 and the ceiling 14. The resilience of the molding 10promotes tight joints. The joints may be glued with a suitable adhesive(e. g., FD-8133 manufactured by H. B. Fuller Company) or heat bonded.

Referring to FIG. 4, the molding 10 may be packaged in rolls within abox 30 such as a cardboard box. An opening or slot 32 in the box 30 maybe used to dispense the molding 10 as it is installed. For example, inthe case of 4.5 inch wide crown molding, a 30 ×30×5 inch box can hold atleast 120 feet of the molding 10. The weight of such a package andmolding combined would typically be less than 6 pounds. Preferably, thefront side 22 of the molding 10 faces the inside of the roll (as shownin FIG. 4) to facilitate installation. Preferably, the molding 10 comesout of the box “right-handed”, that is, as it comes out of the box youstart on the right side of the wall and work to the left. During thisprocess the molding comes out of the box properly oriented so that thetop of the molding is against the ceiling and the bottom is against thewall. In this way the molding is coming out of the box “right-handed”.FIG. 4 shows the molding 10 coming out of the box “left-handed”.

Referring to FIG. 5, the profile of the molding 10 may be advantageouslychosen to provide nesting between the layers 10 a, 10 b, 10 c, 10 d of aroll of the molding 10. This nesting maximizes the amount of the molding10 in a given roll diameter and minimizes the likelihood of creases inthe surface of the molding 10. Preferably, nesting is achieved byproviding a front surface profile which matches or substantially matchesor matches in significant portions the rear surface profile. Typicallythis will result when the cross sectional profile 18 is of substantiallyor generally uniform thickness.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 7, the molding 10 may be installed by removinga portion of the release strips 28,29 to expose portions of the pressuresensitive adhesive 24,26. The exposed portions are then adhered to theceiling/wall structure and a portion of the molding 10 that is not yetadhered to the structure is flexed away from the structure and more ofthe release strips 28,29 are removed to expose an additional portion ofthe adhesive 24,26. The additional exposed portions are then adhered tothe structure.

Typically, it may be desirable to apply an aesthetic coating such aspaint to the molding 10 after it is adhered to the structure.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a tool 40 for easier installation of themolding 10 includes a ceiling following surface 42, a wall followingsurface 44, a profile following surface 46 and a handle 48. In thepreferred embodiment, the tool 40 is formed from an element 50 having agenerally right angle cross section. The element 50 may be formed from,for example, a sheet of metal or rigid plastic and is preferably ofconstant width as shown in FIG. 7. With reference to FIG. 6, the element50 extends from the handle 48 upward to the curved portion 51 and acrossto near the tip 53 of the tool 40. The element 50 has a first outsidesurface corresponding to the surface 42 and a second outside surfacecorresponding to the surface 44. A block of plastic foam 52 (preferablyflexible polyethylene foam) attached to the inside surfaces of theelement 50 provides the surface 46. The surface 46 matches the contourof the central portion 54 of the rear side 20 of the profile 18. Lesspreferably the portion of element 50 corresponding to surface 42 may beomitted and block 52 may be of other materials such as solid plastic.The tool 40 is shaped so that the two tips (one of which is tip 53) donot stick out far enough to contact the pressure sensitive adhesive24,26.

The handle 48 is provided by an extension from the element 50. Thehandle 48 is shown extending from the surface 44, but it is alsopossible to extend from the surface 42.

In use, the tool 40 is manually grasped by the handle 48 and the toolplaced against the intersection of the wall 12 and the ceiling 14. Aportion of the release strips 28,29 is removed to expose portions of thepressure sensitive adhesive 24,26. The central portion 54 is placedagainst the surface 46. This guides the molding 10 into the correctposition relative to the wall 12 and the ceiling 14 and providespressure resistive support to the central portion 54 while allowing themanual pressing of the adhesive 24,26 against the wall 12 and ceiling14, respectively.

The exposed portions are adhered to the wall 12 and the ceiling 14,respectively, and a portion of the molding 10 that is not yet adhered tothe wall or ceiling is flexed away from the wall or ceiling and more ofthe release strips 28,29 are removed to expose additional portions ofthe adhesive 24,26. The tool 40 is slid and repositioned to cooperatewith the flexed portion as the flexed portion is positioned by thesurface 46 for adhering. The additional exposed portions are thenadhered to the wall 12 and the ceiling 14. In this manner the tool 40 isprogressively slid along the top of the wall and a long continuouslength of molding 10 is adhered in place.

In an alternate embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, a tool 40′ ,similar to the tool 40 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, is used in theinstallation of molding 10. Tool 40′ has a rectangular cross-sectionalshape, which may be sized to fit, and provide support for, any profile18. Tool 40′ may also be provided with a rounded end 41 and a hole orbore 43 through the rounded end 41, as illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17,for ease of gripping by a user. Preferably, tool 40′ is made of anextruded foam, for example, high density polyethylene or polyvinylchloride and has a density of approximately 5-8 cu. ft. Tool 40′ ispreferably initially provided in an approximately 6 foot long piece.Preferably, an 18 inch piece is cut to form tool 40′. The remainingportion may be cut in 3″ segments to form corner supports 95,97 (shownin FIG. 13) as described below.

Tool 40′ is used together with press form 90, which is illustrated inFIGS. 14 and 15. Press form 90 comprises a base portion 92 and a handleportion 94. The base portion 92 has a bottom edge 96 and a top edge 98.The bottom edge is shaped to mate with the front side of molding 10. Thebase portion 92 may be any preselected length, preferably 6-24 inches,more preferably approximately 12-16 inches. The handle portion 94 isintegrally formed with, and extends out from base portion 92. Press form90 is preferably made of injection molded polystyrene.

Tool 40′ is placed against the intersection of the wall 12 and theceiling 14. Molding 10 is placed over tool 40′, so that the back side ofmolding 10 engages tool 40′. The bottom edge of press form 90 iscontacted with the front side 22 of molding 10, and pressure is appliedto press form 90, urging molding 10 against wall 12. As tool 40′ issized to fit the specific contour of molding 10, the molding 10 isaligned properly for installation. Release strip is then continuouslyremoved from molding 10, as press form 90 is progressively slid alongthe front side 22 of molding 10. Press form 90 urges pressure sensitiveadhesive 24 against wall 12 as press form 90 is progressively slid alongthe front side 22 of molding 10, thus adhering molding 10 to wall 12.Tool 40′ is also moved along wall 12 to guide molding 10 to the correctposition relative to the wall 12 and the ceiling 14 and provideresistive support for molding 10 as release strip 29 is removed.

Tool 40′ is removed from behind molding 10. The upper portion of molding10 is then adhered to the ceiling 14 using press form 90. Press form 90is contacted with upper portion of the front side 22 of molding 10 asrelease strip 26 is removed. Pressure is applied to press form 90,urging pressure sensitive adhesive 26 against the ceiling 14. Press form90 is progressively slid along the front side 22 of molding 10 asrelease strip 26 is removed, adhering molding 10 to the ceiling 14.

The molding 10 is adhered to the wall 12 and ceiling 14 until itapproaches a corner where two walls 12 and 12′ meet. Corner supports95,97, cut from the initial 6′ section of tool 40′ are adhered to walls12, 12′ and 12″ in and on the corners, as illustrated in FIG. 13.Segments 95,97 are preferably approximately 3 inches wide. The wall ismarked with a pencil, pen or other appropriate marker at two preselectedpoints, preferably one foot from the wall and two feet from the wall,more preferably 16 inches from the wall and 32 inches from the wall. Themolding 10 is installed until it is adhered up to the two foot mark (or32 inch mark). The molding is then measured one foot (or 16 inches)towards the corner from the one foot (or 16 inch) mark. This measurementindicates the point on molding 10 that will correspond to the corner.The molding 10 is marked at this point (the “end mark”). The miter boxis then placed behind molding 10, along the wall 12, and the molding 10is cut along the end mark. This cut results in a section of molding 10that comes to an end at the corner of where walls 12 and 12′ meet. Thetwo foot long (or 32 inch) section of molding 10 that has not beenadhered to wall 12 and ceiling 14 is then installed by peeling theremaining portions of release strips 28,29 and pressing molding 10 inplace over the section 95 on wall 12.

Referring to FIG. 2, a molding 10′, similar to the molding 10 of FIG. 1is shown installed on a mid-portion of the wall 12. Moldings at thislocation are often referred to as chair rails. The rear side 20′ of themolding 10′ is generally flat and like the molding 10, is provided withpressure sensitive adhesive (unshown) for adhering the molding 10 to thewall 12. The molding 10′ may be manufactured and packaged the same wayas the molding 10 and installed similarly. In uninstalled form, themolding 10′ is also provided with at least one release strip.

A preferred chair rail or panel molding 74 is shown in FIG. 10, which isdesigned for convenient nesting. Molding 74 (preferably 1.5 inches fromtop to bottom) has a front surface 76 and a rear surface 78, the lowerflat portion of which is coated with a layer of pressure sensitiveadhesive 80 for adhesion to a wall.

Referring to FIG. 3, a molding 10″ similar to the molding 10 of FIG. 1is shown installed on a base portion of the wall 12. Moldings at thislocation are often referred to as base molding or baseboard molding. Therear side 2011 of the molding 10″ is generally flat and like the molding10, is provided with pressure sensitive adhesive (unshown) for adheringthe molding 10″ to the wall 12. Pressure sensitive adhesive may beapplied along the entire rear side 20″, or in strips, such as stripsalong the top, middle and bottom of side 20″. Pressure sensitiveadhesive may also be applied along the bottom surface 21 of molding 10″.The molding 10″ may be manufactured and packaged the same way as themolding 10 and installed similarly. In uninstalled form the molding 10″is also provided with a release strip over each strip of pressuresensitive adhesive. Other front surface profiles for chair rail moldingsand base moldings can be used, such as those illustrated in moldingcatalogues from Hiland Wood Products, Walnut Creek, Ohio and AmericanHardwood, Columbia Station, Ohio, which are incorporated herein byreference.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, an adapter or stepform 60 for applyingmultiple rows of the moldings 10 is shown. The adapter or stepform 60 isan elongate sheet, for example 6 to 18 inches wide, from 1/16 to ½, morepreferably ¼ to 5/16 or ⅜, inches thick and of any convenient length,such as at least 30,50,75,100 or 120 feet. The adapter 60 is preferablyof the same flexible plastic foam material as the member 16, exceptpreferably a little more dense; preferably having a density of 1.6-9,more preferably 2-6, more preferably 3-4, more preferably about 3, lbs.per cubic foot. Less preferably it is a plastic material which isresilient, flexible and coilable, such as solid or lightweight plastic.The adapter may be, for example 8 inches wide and ⅜ inch thick and havea series of longitudinal scoring or fold grooves 62. The grooves 62 maybe on either the front or back side or both, preferably the back. Thegrooves are spaced to provide convenient selection of spacing betweenfolds, for example, ½ or ¾ inch to accommodate various combinations ofmolding sizes. The peripheral portions of the back side of the adapter60 are provided with pressure sensitive adhesive 64,66 and releasestrips 68,70, respectively. Other strips or layers of pressure sensitiveadhesive (with release strips), such as illustrated at 71 a, 71 b, 71 c,71 d and 71 e, may optionally be added longitudinally between each pairof adjacent grooves 62. The adapter 60 is manufactured and packaged inrolls as described above and installed with a tool like tool 40 exceptthat the profile following surface 46 is shaped to correspond to theshape of the adapter 60 as installed.

In use, the adapter 60 is folded on desired grooves 62 to form agenerally rectangular cross section (in combination with the wall 12 andthe ceiling 14), preferably 3.5 ×3.5 inches. Release strips 68,70 areremoved and, using a tool 40, the adapter 60 is attached to the topportion of the wall 12 and to the edge portion of the ceiling 14. Thenas described above and using tool 40, a crown molding or molding 10 isattached between the adapter 60 and the ceiling 14. Another row ofmolding 10 is attached between the wall 12 and the adapter 60. In thisway, the adapter 60 serves as an intermediate attachment point for therows of moldings and permits a much larger and more complex totalmolding surface to be installed. Note how a portion 61 of the adapter 60forms a portion of the exposed molding surface. If the adapter 60 isfolded further away from the adhesive (such as at location 63) so that aflat portion of adapter 60 between 64 and 63 is against the wall, theadapter 60 may also be stapled to the wall at location 65 for extrasupport.

Alternatively, a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive, such as at 71 a,71 b, 71 c, 71 d or 71 e, on the adapter 60 (with release strip removed)may serve the function of the staple.

The moldings disclosed herein are much less expensive than those ofmaterials such as wood. Because the molding is light and flexible, itcan be quickly installed with few tools. No unsightly nail holes arecreated and no sawing is required because the molding can be cut with asharp knife. This also lowers the level of skill required forinstallation.

It should be evident that this disclosure is by way of example and thatvarious changes may be made by adding, modifying or eliminating detailswithout departing from the fair scope of the teaching contained in thisdisclosure. The invention is therefore not limited to particular detailsof this disclosure except to the extent that the following claims arenecessarily so limited.

1. An architectural molding, said molding comprising: an extrudedflexible plastic foam member having a front side, a rear side and across sectional profile; a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive affixedto at least a portion of said rear side; and a release strip releasablyadhered to said layer of pressure sensitive adhesive.
 2. A moldingaccording to claim 1, wherein said molding is packaged in a continuouslength greater than 30 feet.
 3. A molding according to claim 1, whereinsaid cross sectional profile provides nesting of multiple layers of saidmolding.
 4. A molding according to claim 1, wherein said front side ispaintable.
 5. A molding according to claim 1, wherein said foam memberis pre-colored.
 6. A molding according to claim 1, wherein said frontside is corona treated to accept paint.
 7. A molding according to claim1, wherein said front side is pre-primed to accept paint.
 8. A moldingaccording to claim 1, wherein said molding is packaged in a roll.
 9. Amolding according to claim 1, wherein said molding is adapted forapplication on a base portion of a wall, said release strip beingremoved from said pressure sensitive adhesive and said pressuresensitive adhesive being adhered to said base portion.
 10. A moldingaccording to claim 1, wherein said molding is adapted for application ona mid-portion of a wall, said release strip being removed from saidpressure sensitive adhesive and said pressure sensitive adhesive beingadhered to said mid-portion.
 11. A molding according to claim 1, whereinsaid front side has a surface which has a front surface profile, saidfront surface profile having a profile of crown molding.
 12. A moldingaccording to claim 1, wherein said profile is constant.
 13. A moldingaccording to claim 1, wherein said profile is adapted to span from a topportion of a wall to an edge portion of a ceiling.
 14. A moldingaccording to claim 1, wherein said member is made of a flexible plasticfoam material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, rubberlatex, polypropylene, polyurethane and polyvinyl chloride.
 15. A moldingaccording to claim 1, wherein said member is made of polyethylene foam.16. A method for installing an architectural molding to a structure,said method comprising: providing said molding, said molding having: anextruded flexible plastic foam member having a front side, a rear sideand a cross sectional profile; a layer of pressure sensitive adhesiveaffixed to at least a portion of said rear side; and a release stripreleasably adhered to said layer of pressure sensitive adhesive;removing a portion of said release strip to expose a portion of saidpressure sensitive adhesive; adhering said exposed portion to saidstructure; flexing a portion of said molding not yet adhered to saidstructure away from said structure and removing an additional portion ofsaid release strip to expose an additional portion of said pressuresensitive adhesive; and adhering said additional portion to saidstructure.
 17. A method according to claim 16, further comprisingapplying a desired aesthetic coating to said molding.
 18. A methodaccording to claim 16, further comprising joining segments of saidmolding with a butt-joint or a mitered joint.
 19. A method according toclaim 16, further comprising joining abutting portions of said moldingwith heat bonding or adhesive bonding.